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bookgardendc's review against another edition
3.0
beautifully written like all Pamuk but the intense examination of pain arising from love is a little hard to read!
chanelson's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
trixie_belden's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
toreadistovoyage's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.25
I picked this up after I started planning a trip to Istanbul. There is a museum based off of this book, which is ultimately a museum based off a book based off a museum or something totally weird like that. The actual museum was the European museum of the year in 2014 (I think that's the right year).
The first quarter of this book was great - lots of drama, setting up what was sure to be a tragic story, interesting characters. However, the bulk of the book (I would say from the quarter-ish mark to about ninety percent) was repetitive, slow, and, honestly, boring. The ending redeemed it somewhat. It was strange that the author placed himself in the story as a character.
It took me a long time to read it. Like I had to force myself at times to pick it up. I used all of my library renewals and it is technically late. Just overall not worth it.
The first quarter of this book was great - lots of drama, setting up what was sure to be a tragic story, interesting characters. However, the bulk of the book (I would say from the quarter-ish mark to about ninety percent) was repetitive, slow, and, honestly, boring. The ending redeemed it somewhat. It was strange that the author placed himself in the story as a character.
It took me a long time to read it. Like I had to force myself at times to pick it up. I used all of my library renewals and it is technically late. Just overall not worth it.
jaymeee's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
nrgraham's review against another edition
2.0
Finishing this book was a major slog. While I'm a big fan of Pamuk's writing, I found this story very frustrating, and kept reading out of stubbornness, not interest.
jessica_m's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pavanayi's review against another edition
3.0
The author has actually established a museum somewhere in Beyoglu which unfortunately I wasn't able to visit during my tour of Turkey.
To be frank, there were at least five times when I got sick of Kemal's obsession over Fusun and wanted to return the book to the library as he narrates for more than 200 pages (out of 530) how he misses Fusun.
The first 100 pages celebrates love/passion in an extraordinary way where Kemal finds harmony in his life as he sleeps with his fiance and Fusun sometimes on the same day. There are glimpses of Turkey, its people and the fragile morale as the country tries to come to terms with the amalgamation of western ideas with traditional ones. Yet it is the characters in the novel which surprised this reader with the author portraying the various shades of each character.
This is not a book to read when you are in a bad mood, for it will drive you down to the deepest holes of hell. Three stars for making the reader plunge into the depths of his/her own psyche and question what is right and what can be right?
To be frank, there were at least five times when I got sick of Kemal's obsession over Fusun and wanted to return the book to the library as he narrates for more than 200 pages (out of 530) how he misses Fusun.
The first 100 pages celebrates love/passion in an extraordinary way where Kemal finds harmony in his life as he sleeps with his fiance and Fusun sometimes on the same day. There are glimpses of Turkey, its people and the fragile morale as the country tries to come to terms with the amalgamation of western ideas with traditional ones. Yet it is the characters in the novel which surprised this reader with the author portraying the various shades of each character.
This is not a book to read when you are in a bad mood, for it will drive you down to the deepest holes of hell. Three stars for making the reader plunge into the depths of his/her own psyche and question what is right and what can be right?